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Anne Baker: Do members of Congress shortchange their constituents in favor of donors?

Anne Baker: Do members of Congress shortchange their constituents in favor of donors?

Anne Baker

Article in the August 17, 2016 Washington Post

The more outside money politicians take, the less well they represent their constituents

Do members of Congress shortchange their constituents in favor of donors? That accusation was flung in one congressional race recently — but it’s a question worth asking of districts nationwide. About a quarter of the members of the House of Representatives raise a large share of their campaign funds from donors outside of their districts. And my research suggests that the more they depend on those donors, the less they represent the voters in their districts.